Mob at home plate?

[NCASAUmp]

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

Well Dave, the PU didn't have the benefit of post game interviews, photos of players in slings, or instant replay.

Nor do I, but I've tossed out players for doing similar things that were more "subtle" than this (sliding into a bag with their foot at F4's knee-level, etc.).

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

Do we all have MC, out, ejection if the runner just as forcefully slid feet first into the catcher?

No, because that's actually PART of the game.

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

And after the game the runner said she was trying to kick the ball out of the glove, and photos of players on crutches, and instant replay, et al?

Of course not, because the runner didn't do anything flagrant enough to merit an ejection, unless she was obviously (and I do mean "obviously") trying to kick the fielder.

Originally Posted by Tru_in_Blu

One of the things I've tried to work on this season is the OBS call. I do a lot of lower level girls games and can call it on almost every base hit out of the infield on F3. Most times, though, the BR are content to simply run through the bag, like their coaches always tell them. If they're going to 2B, it's from 15' beyond 1B.

Ted

It's good that you've got something specific to work on. That's the mark of a good umpire, and I do commend you for that. However, in this case, I think an OBS call would be a difficult sell, as I never saw any deviation by the runner before the ball was in the catcher's possession. And even if you could somehow justify OBS in this sitch, it's still trumped by the malicious contact. There's a clear-cut difference between the example you're mentioning (feet first sliding) and what happened in the game (lowering the shoulder and going head first). I used to be a volleyball player, and I know the difference between lowering yourself for a head-first slide (the EXACT same as a volleyball dive) and lowering yourself to pound another player into the ground.